Nevin Şaşkın
18167052
19th Century Novel-I
Doç. Dr. Cumhur Y. Madran
Social Constructionism and Its Effects in Wuthering Heights
Social constructionism can be defined as a theory of standing on sociocultural process
that influences humans’ basic understandings of the world which they exist. It examines the
way acting of people influenced by society, culture and socialization. What wee se as real is
the result of the interaction of individuals with other human beings. According to society’s
norms, humans are classified in terms of how they are brought up, educated or lived in
society. All ideas about individuals are gained subsequently such as race, ethnicity, and
gender, class distinction, how to be a good person, religion. All these ideas are accepted
unconditionally from the society, social structure builds on these views. In this case, we
believe that reality of them and treat as real. The effects of social constructionism are seen in
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.
The social structure of England is highly complex in 19th century. It is based on
money, land owned and physical appearance. The importance of social norms is considered
repeatedly in Wuthering Heights. To begin with main characters, when Heathcliff was firstly
introduced to the Earnshaws by Lockwood, he described him as a “dark-skinned gypsy in
aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman”. As it is seen that Heathcliff’s skin-tone is
highlighted due to the fact that society has discrimination of race and ethnicity. His physical
appearance is reason of his exclusion. Therefore, Catherine makes fun of his physical
appearance and his skin-tone. Another example is Catherine herself, she has been turned a
wild creature in a short period time while she is in Wuthering Heights. But then Catherine lost
her naturalness as opposed to Heathcliff and she has adopted herself to the values of upper
class society. She has adopted herself to an unnatural way of life in terms of physical
appearance, perception of life and her manners. Cathy has not any resistance and she left
herself to the society. But Heathcliff has more resistance and he is rebellious to the society.
Heathcliff does not have any intention to change either his physical appearance or manners
for the sake of society and other people’s norms. Catherine understands the differences in the
society via Edgar. But she loves Edgar for social position, his wealth. She would like to be
known a well-known woman. She has class distinction consciousness. She really loves
Heathcliff but does not want to marry with him because he decreases her degree. According to
the general idea in the society, Cathy also goes on looking at marriage as a social contract.
